You are invited to celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday at a free family fun day. Come for Dr. Seuss themed activities, snacks and story time.

Dr. Seuss PajamaramaBarnes and Nobles Huntington Beach on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM They will be having a special pajamarama story time in his honor.7881 Edinger Ave.Huntington Beach, CA714-897-8781

Friday, February 27, 2009

Startup Princess, an organization for women entrepreneurs, recently launched their newest chapter right here in Orange County! Aren't familiar with Startup Princess? It's an "international network for women entrepreneurs to learn & support one another started in July 2006 by Kelly King Anderson, a mom struggling to launch her own company who wanted to meet & learn from other like-minded, action-driver women entrepreneurs." For more information about the organization go HERE.

The "NEW" OC Chapter of Startup Princess would like to invite you to join them for their March Event: "Get TWITTER-pated" with writer, designer & momfluentil Ciaran Blumenfeld. Come & learn all about Twitter & meet lots of other "like-minded" OC women. The evening will be dedicated to learning & understanding this free social media microblogging site that allows you to connect with others in real time... immensely advantageous to business networking. There will be a range of Twitter Tips, for beginning & advanced users. Check out the video from the Utah Twitter-pated event HERE.

So here are the details...What: "Get TWITTER-pated"Where: Covenant Hills Clubhouse, Ladera Ranch (1 Covenant Hills Dr., Ladera Ranch)When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 7pmCost: $25 via PayPal to kelly@startupprincess.com or you can pay by check at the door

If you want to know all the nitty-gritty details, or you have questions, email us at justspotted@gmail.com & we will gladly send you the Evite.

I sometimes miss living in Los Angeles because I am so far away from my favorite bakery, Porto's. Luckily, I think I have found a good substitute in Orange County - Cream Pan, Japonaise Bakery is a hidden treasure in a Tustin strip mall.

Cream Pan is a Los Angeles branch of Japanese Bakery in Boston, Massachusetts, which has maintained an excellent reputation for the past 18 years. Our motto, is to bake delicious bread using the best hand-selected ingredients.

When I arrived at Cream Pan for lunch there was a line, so I knew that there had to be some merit to the place if people were willing to wait. As I stood in line I looked at all their delightful goodies from a variety of quiches to croissants, it was hard for me to make a decision. I settled on their namesake, a Cream Pan (a type of cream puff) and a Strawberry Croissant. Both were delicious, I shared them with my son, but I have to admit it was hard to share, they were that good. The filling was a perfect blend of sweet and creamy surrounded by a perfect crust.

Did I mention they offer lunch? They have fresh soups, salads, and sandwiches. For those who want something different they have Chicken Katsu and Curry. Next time I visit I promise to not to just get dessert and let you know about their lunch menu, but for now I am still dreaming about their dessert.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

This weekend the Irvine Park Railroad is celebrating their 13th birthday! To celebrate their 13th year of business & to show their appreciation for all of their loyal customers they are rolling back to their original 1996 prices, for one weekend only! That's right! This Saturday, February 28th & Sunday, March 1st, 2009, from 10am - 4pm, everything is just $2.00:$2 train rides$2 hot dogs & sodas$2 bounce house tickets$2 face painting$2 ice cream& FREE Irvine Park Railroad balloons & balloon animalsFor more information, go HERE.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Are you the creative & crafty type? Or, perhaps you just want to be, but don't know where to start? Either way, you will be thanking us for introducing you to Ana Brandt & Bcreative. Last week we told you about Ana Brandt, & her incredible photography. Besides taking beautiful pictures, Ana's studio in Old Town Tustin offers "creative workshops". Either in their studio, at your home, or on-line, Ana & her team of creative geniuses offer workshops & classes to "inspire your creative soul". Their workshops cover everything & anything... making beautiful bows & headbands, sealing & soldering photos in metal charms for necklaces, bookmarks & ribbon charms, creative photo canvas creations, & glass etching, just to name a few. Check out the ENTIRE list of class offerings HERE.

For more information, or to check class times & offerings go HERE, or call (714)730-5050.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Some assume that living in Orange County you do not have access to very many international foods, but there are quite a few ethnic supermarkets in Orange County to meet the needs of any international chef cooking at home. One of my favorites is located in Tustin and called Freshia. You can find a variety of Asian foods at Freshia, but most of their products are centered around Korean cuisine. If you love Korean BBQ you can find all the ingredients at this great supermarket and they also have amazing produce at reasonable prices. On a shopping trip to Freshia I usually pick up Kimchi, Short Ribs for BBQ, ingredients for marinade, produce, and rice. Don't worry, if you don't feel like cooking there is also a yummy food court.

Directions

Score ribs every 1/2-inch along the length and width of the bone, making sure not to cut too deep so the meat will stay attached to the bone.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl to make the marinade. Pour the marinade over the ribs and push the sauce into the cuts so it gets all the way down to the bone. Turn the ribs over face down in the marinade and cover for a minimum of 2 hours or refrigerate overnight for a stronger flavor.

In celebration of National Pancake Day, IHOP will be giving you a FREE short stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes. That's right, three FREE pancakes are coming your way! All they ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children's hospital through Children's Miracle Network.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Stephanie Nelson, Coupon Mom has been featured in O Magazine and the Today Show because of her expertise in grocery savings. For some reason I can never seem to get to the store before my coupons expire, but Coupon Mom is inspiring especially during this recessionary time and delivers helpful hints on how to make coupons work for everyone.

I personally like going to Coupon Mom because I can see at a glance what deals are going on online and get online coupon codes for things like free shipping and discounts. The website has a wealth of information for those who are coupon savvy and want to maximize their savings at their local market.

Ever wanted to ride a particular ride, but no one else in your group wanted to join in the fun? Well, you can always use the Single Rider pass. According to a Disneyland "Our Single Rider Pass is intended to accommodate Guests who choose to experience an attraction alone. This pass, when used, allows a single Guest to fill a vacant seat that otherwise cannot be accommodated by a larger party." Since you are filling otherwise empty seats, generally this line moves quite a bit faster than the normal line. (I've waited for as little as 5 minutes in the Single Rider line, when the normal wait was over an hour. Often times, when the normal wait is extremely long, we've gone into the Single Rider line as an entire group, just to make the wait a little bit shorter... just realize that you will have to split up once it comes time to board the ride!)

In order to take advantage of the Single Rider line guests can obtain a Single Rider Pass from "an Attractions Cast Member at the entrance of a participating attraction." According to Disneyland, the following attractions participate in the "Single Rider Pass" program:

Thursday, February 19, 2009

shrnk, the rock 'n roll styled clothing line for newborns and kids & Lait, the maternity line favored by celeb moms like Britney Spears, Jennifer Beals & Elizabeth Shue are having a HUGE blowout sale. EVERYTHING MUST GO!

With TONS of inventory & ROCK BOTTOM PRICES, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up! All of their clothes will be priced at 50-75% off retail prices, which makes this sale the answer to your recession woes! I'm definitely going to be picking up lots of new clothes for both my boys, & I'm hoping to find THIS cute tee for our newest addition-to-be.

Starting Sunday, February 22nd andlasting until Saturday, February 28th you can dine at your favorite OC restaurants & discover new ones to love all, at a fabulous price!

Enjoying the Orange County Restaurant Week is as easy as 1, 2, 3...1. Choose your Restaurant - you can see the ENTIRE list of participating restaurants HERE, or you can search participating restaurants by city, price point, or cuisine HERE.2. View participating restaurant information & prix fixe menus online.3. Make your reservations, & enjoy dining at some the OC's top restaurants.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

I wanted to have a memorable birthday party for my son last year , so I decided to have interactive birthday party at a place called Wowzville in Laguna Hills.

The facilities at Wowzville are amazing and encourage interaction throughout the party. We reserved the racing zone, which allows you to race against your friends on a high speed track. The kids had a blast racing one another and were able to feel the impact of each crash because of the vibrational seats and steering wheels .

Wowzville's mission is to deliver a unique and interactive experience for every birthday party. If racing is not your thing you can also choose to have a magical birthday in fairyland or be a special agent in the crime unit. The bottom line is that Wowzville delivers fun and is a great place to have a birthday party.

Looking for something "active" to do this weekend? If you act now, you just might be able to sign up for Race on the Base. Featuring a 5K Run, 10K Run, 5K Walk, 10K In-line Skate/ Wheelchair, 1K Kids Fun Run & Reverse Triathlon, there is something for everyone.

Remember last week when we posted about the Chiarakruza Maternity Sale? Well they are at it AGAIN! They are moving their warehouse & seriously EVERYTHING must go! What does this mean for you & me? It means that you & I can pick up tons of Chiarakruza clothes, the maternity line favored by celeb moms like Gwen Stefani, Halli Berry & Jennifer Garner, at ROCK BOTTOM prices.

This is for real ladies! ALL tops (which can sometimes run as high as $90) are selling for $15, ALL bottoms (normally $100+) will be just $20, & all dresses from $20! They even have a $10 bin with lots of pants, everyday on HOT item will be priced at $10 for that day only, & if you bring a pregnant friend, you'll get a FREE tee-shirt!

Really & truly, this is a sale that can't be missed! Rumor has it that many women left last week's sale with an ENTIRE wardrobe for under $250 & I totally believe it!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

When we're in the mood for BBQ, Johnny Rebs' is always at the top of our list. Just one look at the restaurant & you know you are in for a real southern treat. The exterior is exactly what I'd imagine a southern roadhouse to look like, & inside the floor is covered with peanut shells & a deer (or two) hangs on the wall.

The menu is filled with authentic southern favorites including fried green tomatoes, sweet potato french fries, hushpuppies & collard greens. My personal favorite is the Pulled Pork & my kids love the Mac 'n Cheese (actually, so do I). The portions are large, I always end up bringing something home, & the desserts are delicious (ever had fried apple pie?).Next time you get a "hankering" for the south, I'd suggest you stop by Johnny Rebs'. (They do breakfast too!) & if you're bringing the kids along, every Monday night in February 2009, kids eat FREE.

A while back, we wanted to have some family pictures taken. At the suggestion of a friend I called Ana Brandt Photography, & I definitely wasn't disappointed. She "provides portraiture for all stages of life starting at the very beginning." Their goal is to "create classic, simple portraits that will last a lifetime". At their studio in old town Tustin they do everything... maternity, newborns, little ones, bigger ones, families, even silhouettes. But, you never limited to the studio. They also love adventuring outside of the studio to the beach, park, or where ever else you might want to go... even your own home. &, they are always offering "special sessions", Halloween, Santa & Easter sessions (with live bunnies) just to name a few.

Ana is one of those people, that once you've met, you'll have felt like you've know each other for ever. Her style is very relaxed & natural, & with three kids of her own, she definitely has the patience needed to work "active" children, like mine. I love that she says their sessions "are mainly controlled by your desires! When you come in for a session, you can let us know what you would like. Whether it's a casual family session, closeups of a toddler, or pink tutus for a little girl - we will structure the session around what you are looking for. After that it's up to the children! We leave plenty of time for our sessions, and if the little ones take a break, than we do!"

For more information about Ana & to view her incredible portfolio, be sure to check out her website, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll fall in love with her work as well.

Friday, February 13, 2009

I am going to finish up my 25 Loves with my five favorite restaurants for a Valentine date or for any romantic occasion. Most of my choices are in Laguna, but you can’t fault a girl for loving one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the world.

1) K’yaA view of Laguna Beach with tapas and exotic dishes-Could you ask for more?

2) SapphireIts all about food for me here (I like to finish off with their creme brulee) and if you are feeling romantic take a walk on the beach after dinner.

3) La SirenaDon’t forget to order the guacamole and head over to the Montage for dessert at the Loft.

4) Lawry’s Carvery It’s Lawry’s but fast and on a budget. The best part is that you can go shopping after dinner at South Coast Plaza.

5) Tommy'sYes, you read right. I am putting Tommy’s because its one of my husbands faves and he is my sweetheart, so I am willing to make a sacrifice on special occasions.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Bikram Yoga in Irvine just opened and a friend encouraged me to try it out with her. At first I thought I was going to die from the heat, but after you get used to the heat you become focused on the practice. There is something addicting about pushing your body while sweating your guts out. I must say that Bikram Yoga in Irvine is a beautiful studio with wonderful instructors, so its a great place to check out if you have an interest in Bikram Yoga and live near Irvine.

A while back, Dick's Sporting Goods bought out Chick's Sporting Goods. As part of the "conversion" process, they are starting to clear merchandise out of the stores at incredible prices. Last night the family & I headed over the Tustin location, & let me tell you... I was amazed. This year's Ski & Snowboard gear and apparel is on sale, starting at 40% & going up to 75% off. Workout clothes, shoes, casual wear - lots on sale, with more going on sale every day.

Find your nearest Chick's location HERE. Although, you might want to call & make sure your nearest location is also on sale - from what I understand, they are taking it a few stores at a time. I know for a fact, that merchandise at the Tustin location is getting marked down every day, but I can't speak for any surety regarding any of the other locations.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Disneyland is always magical, but going there on your birthday can be something else entirely. & with Disney giving you the best gift of all this year, FREE admission on your birthday, you might find yourself celebrating several birthdays at Disneyland. So, we thought we'd share with you some of the birthday celebrations available at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Upon arriving at Disneyland the very first stop you should make is to City Hall to receive your FREE birthday button. They'll personalize it with your name & all day long park employees will be wishing you a happy day.

If you are looking for a bit more of an actual celebration, there are several to choose from:

Birthday baker "Pat E. Cake" hosts the "My Disneyland Birthday Party" at the Plaza Inn Restaurant. This 45 minute- 1 hour long birthday celebration involves guest decorating their own personal cake, party games & activities, & a special appearance by Mickey & Minnie Mouse. The cost is $15.99 (plus tax) per person, children under 2 are FREE, & if you have an annual pass you get a discount. For information regarding times, or to make a reservation (although you can usually just "walk up") call (714)781-DINE.

While dining at select restaurants you can also order either a Sorcerer Mickey or Princess "Birthday Bucket". Each bucket comes with an individual-sized birthday cake with candle, birthday buttons, a collectible toy, & a "Happy Birthday" collectible cloisonne pin. The buckets are available for $20 each (plus tax) at the following resort restaurants (while dining): Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe, Ariel's Disney Princess Celebration, Wine Country Trattoria, Vineyard Room, Storyteller's Cafe, PCH Grill, Yamabuki, Goofy's Kitchen, Hook's Pointe, Granville's. You can also purchase a bucket directly from the Plaza Inn & from room service at any of the 3 Disney owned hotels.

If your birthday plans involve dining at Goofy's Kitchen, you can purchase a "Birthday Bag" which is filled with a balloon, party hat, souvenir Goofy pen, toy maraca, puzzle, & a birthday cupcake cake. The "Birthday Bag" is available for $5 each (plus tax).

& finally, if you will be celebrating a birthday at any of the Disneyland Resort Hotel Restaurants, don't forget to pre-order a cake especially for the occasion. An array of cake size & designs are available to suit your needs, although 48 hours advance notice is required. Call (714)781-DINE for pricing & other information.